Tony Bellew and former world champion Nathan Cleverly are set for a blockbuster rematch this winter.

Promoter Eddie Hearn announced that Cleverly will feature against an unnamed opponent on his May 17 bill in Cardiff, which will also include Gavin Rees’s rematch with Gary Buckland and a fight for European and British featherweight champion Lee Selby.

The development is significant as Welshman Cleverly has worked with rival promoter Frank Warren throughout his career, and Sportsmail understands that Hearn has wider plans for Cleverly to fight Bellew in the winter.

Cleverly won their initial bout in Liverpool in October 2011 via a majority decision. He has since lost his WBO light-heavyweight title and both fighters have stepped up to cruiserweight.

'I’m excited to get back into the ring on May 17,' said Cleverly. 'There are some big fights in the division, I’ve had a great rest and had a chance to lead a normal life and I am ready now to start a new chapter.'

Bellew and Cleverly have had a stormy past, clashing a press conference ahead of their first meeting in the ring and more recently they had a row on Twitter.

A spokesman for Warren told Sportsmail on Thursday that Cleverly ‘is still contracted to Frank Warren’.

Bellew has repeatedly called for a rematch and continued their dispute after his cruiserweight debut win over Valery Brudov earlier this month, saying he was sick of hearing his Cleverly's name.

Cleverly responded by saying: 'I was watching at home and was actually laughing at the TV.

No love lost: Cleverly and Bellew had to be separated at a press conference

Battle of Britain: Cleverly got the better of Bellew in Liverpool in 2011

Time out: Bellew reacts after being caught with a low-blow by Cleverly

Respect: Bellew and Cleverly embrace at the end of their first fight

'It's all good fun and I take it with a pinch of salt basically. But when it happens, he's going to get spanked again.

'I think Tony's only chance to beat me was in that fight in Liverpool. I was 24, I went into the fight at several weeks' notice, in his backyard and that was his best chance of beating me.'